There was chaos at the Ulinzi Sports Complex on Sunday, June 29, as authorities were forced to fire tear gas canisters to disperse a group of rowdy fans.
The chaos followed shortly after Nairobi United made history with a 2-1 win over outgoing champions Gor Mahia to win the Mozzart Bet Cup.
In videos obtained by Kenyans.co.ke, a crowd is seen attempting to disperse after a canister is thrown at the stands.
While it remains unclear what sparked the unrest in the crowd, the fans appeared spooked by the tear gas canisters and heavy police presence, as no further mayhem was reported.
At the time of publication of this article, no injuries were reported during the brief episode of panic.
One of the reasons there was a heavy police presence at the Ulinzi Sports Complex was because of the presence of several dignitaries who were there to witness the newly promoted Nairobi United take on Gor Mahia.
Besides Harambee Stars legend Dennis Oliech, the event was also attended by Mathare United and Harambee Stars player Salim Ali and FKF President Hussein Mohammed.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, who has large stakes at Nairobi United since purchasing the club in 2024, was also present at the Ulinzi Sports Complex on Sunday.
As far as the game is concerned, the National Super League (NSL) champions took the lead in the sixth minute courtesy of Frank Ouya’s overhead kick, but Gor Mahia pulled a goal back in the 37th minute.
Nairobi United, which has been on a meteoric rise up the tiers of Kenyan football since Sakaja took over, took the lead in the second half, as Enock Machaka's goal was enough to secure a famous victory. Following the win, Nairobi United will now represent Kenya at the Confederations Cup.
Notably, the intensity of Gor Mahia's matches has historically also led to unrest in stadiums, reinforcing the need for adequate security measures.
As recently as May 2025, several football fans were left nursing injuries on Sunday, May 4, hours before the highly anticipated Kenya Premier League match between Shabana FC and Gor Mahia, after a stampede erupted from the stands at the Gusii Stadium.
